So it’s Wednesday and I got to thinking about last weekend and this one coming up. Oh, happy hump day, by the way! Anyways, fall seems to be the time of year when there’s a lot of fun activities going on. It’s a great way to get yourself out in the community and have a good time before the cold weather sets in and you’re freaking out over the holidays…try not to do that, by the way. Those holidays will come regardless and you might as well try and enjoy without stressing yourself to the moon and back. Think about it…fairs, festivals, parades…runs, walks, hikes…haunted houses, fun houses, dinners at houses…and that’s what I’m thinking about mainly today. The dinners. You know I’m a foodie at heart, whether I’m making it or someone else is. Plays an important part in social interaction, too. Even in books and movies you’ll find meals being described and folks gathering around the table. Just this past Saturday Hon and I went to a spectacular dinner. Truly. Spectacular. You see, it was Pastured Providence Farmstead’s second farm-to-table dinner and a movie. Our friends Paul and Heather are the caretakers over there at Pastured Providence in Chillicothe. They and their kids are one of the most personable and kind families around. Again, truly. I don’t mince my words – look at the size of my stories. Last year Paul asked me if we’d be interested in contributing to his first dinner and a movie, and of course we were all about doing it, both the contributing and the eating. We’re a family that gets a lot of enjoyment out of participating in community events, whether it be helping get it together, contributions of some sort, or just plain ‘ole attending it. It was a fantastic time and we had hoped for an encore this year. Earlier in the summer Paul had asked us if we’d be interested in doing it again this year and I kindly said, “Sure,” while in my mind I was hooping and hollering and yelling, “Wahoooo, yeeeees to another dinner!” He had asked if we’d be interested in contributing acorn squash, which we had been growing and knew we’d be able to have for it despite the persistent squash bugs we’d been battling. Ugh squash bugs *shudder* We also had planted sweet potatoes, which also became a part of the meal. I had asked Paul if he were interested in us throwing in a goose too…figuratively, of course. Let me just say, together with other area farmers and businesses folks who provided food, drink, their culinary skills, music, and more… It just makes me so darn happy to see folks working together to bring something like this dinner to the community! Something I really like about Pastured Providence Farmstead is their way of doing things, the way they rotate their herd, the way the livestock grows up to be some of the finest beef, lamb, pork, and poultry around. Paul took the time in between eating and watching the movie to tell his guests about their way of working with their livestock and the importance of rotational grazing. People enjoyed their glimpse into how some of what they had just enjoyed for dinner was cared for. Really. I listen. Sat with a nice couple who came from Toledo…that’s right, folks. They were in the area, saw some information on the dinner, and BAM there they were! Wonderful people they were. The movie Pastured Providence showed this year was called “Sustainable.” In a nutshell, it’s about the instability of our food system and people who are leading and teaching others a way to fix the problems. It may not be a romance or a shoot ‘em up bang bang, but it was absolutely outstanding and I really do recommend it. After watching the movie Hon and I felt in our hearts, even more than before, we’re right where we need to be on our little farm. So, there you have it folks. Our great time last weekend out at Pastured Providence Farmstead’s farm-to-table dinner and a movie. What are you going to do this coming weekend? Why not check out some of the local activities going on? I know while I’m at the last Chillicothe Farmers Market of the season, Hon and Eldest will be at a pigeon show in Louisville, KY. You’ll be amazed at all the little things going on that fit any budget and walk of life. It may be getting chilly outside, but there’s plenty of good times to be had before we’re wrapped like pigs in blankets keeping warm. Oh, and thanks to Paul for letting me snag a picture of their dinner off his website…which happens to be www.pasturedprovidence.com I’m not above plugging a great family business. Check ‘em out! Smiling & Waving, Sharon
0 Comments
A few nights ago Hon came in and asked if I’d ever seen a glow worm before. Nope, never had, so of course that meant investigating was in order. I grabbed the flashlight and away I went. Now, let me tell you, I was fully expecting to see worms. We’ve had springs where it was so wet there were worms sticking out all over the ground at night. The fun of it was when I’d shine a flashlight on them and they’d pop back in their ground holes quick as lightning. Knowing they were out there and stepping over them in the dark wasn’t a joy to think of, but I figured as long as I had my shoes on… Anyway, back to the glow worms. When I went outside and turned off the flashlight I was able to see their faint glow in the grass. They really reminded me of lightning bugs the way they would glow…and then as soon as I tried to take a picture they’d disappear. GAH! However, because I’m a bit persistent over things, I finally was able to take a picture for you…just in case you’ve not seen one before. Note it looks worm-ish and for some reason it reminds me of the green worm thing that was eating hot dogs at a hotel in the Ghost Busters movie. I'll have you know I took more pictures of the dark before finally getting this one for you. Here’s the thing about the glow worms, though. I learned they’re not worms at all. I know, I can’t believe it either! They’re more like a beetle type insect. I figured they were a worm, like those old glow worm toys from years back, only obviously not so big and without the nightcap. You know, a worm. Now I feel there’s one more thing that’s not quite what it seems…like French fries that didn’t originate in France, and tomatoes being a fruit, even though they’ll always be a vegetable to me. Glow worms aren’t worms at all. So, there you have it folks. Glow worms. They’re not actually worms, but they were an interesting sight to see and I’m happy to have had the experience. A cool night outside next year would be worms popping in and out of their holes by way of flashlight while glow worms walked about. May have to keep an eye out for that. Smiling & Waving, Sharon Sometimes social media gives me grand ideas. Okay, so sometimes it gets me in trouble, too, but I don’t mean for it to happen. It just…does. Usually it’s Pinterest. Fantastic ideas at the click of a button right there! Well, a few weeks ago it happened to be Facebook. You see, there I was…innocently scrolling through posts…and then I land on one from a friend with a picture of her geese. They were beautiful, and further investigative reading was needed on what she wrote. They happened to be a breed of geese I’ve been drooling over at the poultry show for years. Well, come to find out, she was wanting to rehome them. I swear I heard angelic music from above while sparkles rained down from the sky, lighting up my computer screen. I couldn’t help it. I just had to see if they were still available, so I quickly posted my interest in bringing them here. I also made sure to call Hon and ask him if he minded. I figured it was best to say something instead of doing the, “Wow, where did those geese in the pasture come from?” routine. I also figured I didn’t want to put him over the edge seeing as I had taken down a wall in the kitchen and did a bit of cabinet and appliance moving around while he was backpacking a bit ago. Leave me without supervision and who knows what’ll happen, you know?! Anyway, the deal was that I could bring the geese home because he knew I was going to be downsizing the young American Buff geese be it by reselling to a farm or to a nearby freezer. I was so excited! Arrangements were made with my friend, and Eldest went with me to pick them up. Eldest and I had a nice drive together, it was wonderful to visit with Shay and see her farm, and then we began our drive back. The geese have been here for around 1 ½ weeks now and they’re settling in nicely. I’m crossing my fingers we’ll have goslings from them in the spring. You see, they are Dewlap Toulouse geese. Another heritage breed, and one that is a bit bigger than our American Buffs. Oh, I’m still loving on Moe, Alice, Frick, and Barbie. They’re not going anywhere, and I look forward to more of their goslings in the spring again, too. However, having a larger breed of goose also gives more of a size variety as we expand into selling goose for folks and their holiday meals. Oh, did I tell you a doose came with them? Hmmm, I didn’t think so. Well, the doose came, too. He’s a Pekin and the geese are his family. You see, here at The Silver Maple Farm we don’t just have chickens, ducks, and geese. Oh no no! We also have chucks, gucks, and now a doose. Chucks are the chickens that think they’re ducks. Frick is our guck, or goose that thinks she’s a duck, and now we have a doose, who is, yep, you got it, a duck that thinks it’s a goose. It really does all make sense if you think about it. Shay said the geese and doose were all raised together, so there’s no way I could leave the little guy without his family. He’s adjusting pretty well, too, happily walking all over with them, swimming on the pond, enjoying their new farm. We love all of our animals, confused or not. So, there you have it. A trio of Dewlap Toulouse geese and their doose-friend. We’ve named the gander Mr. Big Stuff, the gray goose Vodka, and the buff goose Angel. If you hear me talk about Biggie Smalls, that’s the doose because he’s a big goose at heart. Beginning later this week we’ll also be selling processed Certified Naturally Grown goose from our farm for a delicious addition to your upcoming holiday meal. All the information on them will be on our website. They are being processed right here on our farm with the help of our friend Christen, of Slate Creek Farm, who is just up the road. We are going to be adding processed pigeon (squab) and duck next year, too. Big things are happening at The Silver Maple Farm! Smiling & Waving, Sharon |